Midway student accused of coercing girl, sharing explicit photo

A Midway Independent School District student was arrested Tuesday morning, accused of showing a sexually explicit image of a 17-year-old girl to classmates last month after threatening to do so if she ended their relationship, Hewitt Police Chief Jim Devlin said.

Adrian Jai Hammond, 17, was arrested at about 9 a.m. at Midway High School. The girl told police she was previously in a consensual relationship with Hammond and that during that time Hammond had taken an explicit picture of her and uploaded it to a personal digital file database, Devlin said.

"When she learned the photograph was taken, she attempted to get the photograph deleted, but apparently it had already been uploaded," he said.

Hammond allegedly threatened to show the picture to classmates and friends if the girl ended their relationship, which she did, Devlin said.

Based on witness statements, detectives believe Hammond showed the photograph to several people, he said. Detectives collected evidence and got warrants for Hammond's arrest, Devlin said.

Midway ISD officials are working closely with police during their investigation, Superintendent George Kazanas said. Once the district knows more, officials will turn to the student code of conduct and evaluate what discipline procedures for an off-campus incident might need to be followed, Kazanas said.

The procedures could include looking at educational placement or even possible expulsion. The district might also look at what role a new cyber bullying law may have in any discipline action, Kazanas said.

David's Law passed last summer and gives school districts more authority to intervene in reported cases of cyber bullying beyond school boundaries, but it is not yet clear whether the new law would apply in this case, he said.

"There's more to come, but we're not able to completely resolve the situation until we get all the facts," Kazanas said.

Devlin said a school resource officer pulled Hammond out of class Tuesday morning and arrested him without incident. He was arrested on two state jail felony charges of unlawful promotion of intimate visual material and sexual coercion.

Hammond remained in McLennan County Jail on Tuesday evening with bond listed at $6,000.

Kristin Hoppa has been covering public safety and breaking news for the Tribune-Herald since January 2016. She worked in Northwest Missouri covering crime-related issues before her move to Central Texas. She is a University of Kansas graduate.

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